The Gresham City Council extended two small business programs for a year.

Since creation of the programs in 2010, over 165 businesses, occupying more than 235,000 square feet of previously vacant storefront space have benefited from the incentives, saving small business owners almost $98,000 in city development and business license related fees and charges.

“I think the numbers speak for themselves," said Mayor Shane T. Bemis. "This program has worked. It has created jobs, it has opened storefronts and it has created vibrancy."